Question 2How does your media product represent different social groups

1. QUESTION 2
HOW DOES YOUR MEDIA
PRODUCT REPRESENT
DIFFERENT SOCIAL
GROUPS
BY PHOEBE JOHNSON

2. TEXT
My target audience was towards young adults and I made my text
suitable for that audience by using a simple yet sophisticated font –
like in NME. The writing style I uses was heavily influenced by NME
as it’s target audience is also mainly young adults, which is
demonstrated in text all across my magazine. For the text on my
double page spread, KERRANG! Influenced me the most with its
interview style articles, as I feel it entices the fans of the artist to
find out more information about the artist (uses and gratification). A
lso the structure of my magazine I followed the conventions of NME
and KERRANG! Such as the two columns on the contents page and
three columns on the double page spread. I think this convention is
very important as it happens in most music magazines and it is an
ongoing structure, which keeps a magazine looking professional
and creates brand awareness which will attract an audience.

3. SHOT TYPES
I used all eye line shots for my magazine which creates a
direct mode of address with the audience, which then creates
a personal relationship (uses and gratification theory). This
also means that my target audience of young adults can then
create a personal relationship and be more interested in
reading and purchasing the magazine.

4. Also all of my shots were medium close ups which is similar to
NME’s conventions as they usually have medium close ups on a lot
of their images. Which fits with my target audience of young adults
as it shows a lot of the body which means the reader can establish
the person in the image.
The front cover and double page spread image take up the whole of
one of the sides of the page, which expresses the importance of
them and makes them more relevant to the reader. Also only having
one image with a direct mode of address on the contents page
means it is the main focus meaning the reader is more likely to read
the main article in the double page spread as they want to find more
information on the artist.

5. MODELS
For my models I only used women as in the magazines I researched
there was a higher percentage of male readers in both NME and
KERRANG! So I decided to use women as it should attract women
as they can relate more. Also I chose models who were in my target
audience which is important as it means the readers can relate
easier and are more likely to want to get information on these
artists. This creates personal integrative needs which entice them to
purchase the magazine.
The mise en scene in what the models are wearing and what their
make up is like is all to make them look more alternative. As on my
front page heavy eye make up and red lipstick is used to give a bold
look, it also contrasts with the black clothes making the model
stand out more.

6. The mise en scene in the contents page the model is wearing a tye
die t-shirt with very dark lips and a blank face expression to appear
edgywhich is a part of what my target audience is.
Also in the double page spread it uses the same model but in a
different outfit, which is an army jacket making it seem even more
alternative, it also shows the models hair cut which is shaves at the
side, which relates to my target audience towards edgy teenagers.
Also the model is making a blank expression to appear the indie style
of mucic and alternative exterior.

7. THEORY OF
REPRESENTATION
As I uses all female models, which created a stereotype of
“edgy/alternative girls” which can create a personal identity
with readers and personal integrative needs which relates the
model to the reader.
Goffman’s theory would say that using red lips on the model
on the front page is a sexual representation. However I gave
my model this look as it looks bold and sophisticated, as well
as edgy which are the main themes in my magazine.
Another theorist is Gill who suggests that women are tough
and independent, I suggest this in my magazine by not
including any romance in the main stories and focusing on
the woman’s success.

8. REPRESENTATION
The representation of my target audience which is young adults in my
magazine is positive as it is all about the success of teenagers within
music rather than any negative notes. I have done this on purpose as
teenagers representation in the media is usually bad but in my
magazine it focuses on the things that young adults are achieving.
Which will hopefully entice young adults to buy my magazine as then
they will feel that maybe they can also achieve to the amount of the
artists in my magazine.
My magazine mainly represents one of the subcultures of teenagers
which is “edgy/alternative” which is why the models have so much
make up on as I wanted my magazine to have a similar style to NME
and have a professional look, meaning the models being edited
however this isn’t to make the young adults want to have unrealistic
expectations of themselves it is to achieve a more professional and
sophisticated look but at the same time having the models appear
edgy and alternative to attract that type of audience.